Reflections on 2010

What a year.  I had a little bit of downtime today (while computers were doing things) to reflect.  It was year of big things.  I flew to Oregon.  I was away from my husband for five months.  I hiked 1350 miles.  I turned 40.  I gained a new nephew.  I found a corpse.  I got Lyme disease again.  I discovered my horse's brain.  I adopted three cats.  I flew to Colorado.

That is a lot of stuff for one year.

It has been a year of wacky changes, physically.  I lost a ton of weight while hiking, despite eating with gusto the whole time.  Then I came home and had a huge appetite and gained weight.  And then I stress ate and gained weight.  And then it was the holidays and the food was awesome and I gained weight.  Thus, I will be starting the new year with a diet.  It may or may not cause me to lose weight, but I know the attempt will at least make me feel good about myself.

Despite my Jabba-like physique, I am fairly content with myself and my health these days.  Three years of yoga has led to a significantly more happy existence.  I hardly ever have backaches anymore, and if I do it's because I've done something REALLY dumb.  As opposed to before yoga, when I could hurt myself by bending over.  Having a large hunky husband to do all the heavy lifting doesn't hurt either.

Said large hunky husband has also helped my mental state.  I'm just generally happier than I used to be.  And, data center moves excepted, less stressed.  I feel like I'm (mostly) the person I always wanted to be.  I still strive toward goals, but they are not earth shattering goals.  If I don't make it all the way it's okay.  For me, the important thing is the journey.  It's the day to day "I love you" and hugs and doing my best.  I will never be Martha Stewart, or a super model (or a regular model for that matter) or a spectacular athlete.  But I strive to keep a better house, take care of myself, and enjoy exercising.

Possibly I should strive to be a better sysadmin but frankly I think that boat has sailed.  What I am is what they get.  I ain't getting any smarter over here.  Happier, yes.  Smarter, no.

A typical Thursday

Pluto was fine when I got there today, although as far as I can tell he hadn't drunk anymore water.  I started to worry, then pondered how many times I could remember seeing him drink water (none) and decided to let it go.  He did a victory lap around the field and then zeroed in on the manure pile, where he pulled a piece of hay out to eat.  So really the question is not "why did he colic?", it's "why doesn't he colic every day?" and also "how is such a smart horse so dumb?"

I attempted to clean the stall he spent the night in, but was stymied by the lack of a wheelbarrow or bedding.  So I left it with a pile of trashed bedding in the middle of it.  Welcome Bonnie!%

Not finishing the stall left  me with time to meet my beloved for lunch, wherein I got free french onion soup.%%  Mmmmm soup.  Love soup time of year.  Which is pretty much 12/12 for me, but who's complaining?  I like soup.

I kicked JD out of lunch and went shopping.  You may or may not be the recipient of an after-lunch Xmas gift, in which case I love you.  If you are not the recipient, I may love you anyway but just not have found the right gift.  The manufacturers are not making the things in my head, which is a pity, because I have wonderful things in my head.%%%

After after lunch, I stopped by the house to gather up Trouble's remaining medical supplies.  JD and I had agreed to donate them back to the animal hospital%%%% where he received all his treatment.  Especially the Aranesp, which is freaking expensive and a damn shame to waste.  Not that I wish anemia on anybody, but I hope somebody needs it before it expires. 

I gifted the hospital staff with Aranesp and sharps%%%%% and then asked to meet the kittens.  JD had taken pictures of them before, jailed in a crate in the middle of the waiting room.  He had mentioned how we didn't have enough cats.  And when we were there on Tuesday to kill Trouble (6), I saw them and they looked just the right amount of insane for me.  We don't need nice furniture or untroubled sleep.  We need cuteness abounding!  And also the opportunity to pet more critters.

I petted critters.  They were freaked out not to be in a crate and to have a stranger petting them.  After a while I returned them to the crate, and then I had a decision to make.  Did I know anything about these cats? (7)  Did I care? (8)  Pretty much with kittens, especially kittens that have been in a weird situation, you're taking a leap into the unknown.  And if you know me, you may find this weird, but I am okay with taking a leap into the unknown.  When it comes to adding a new animal to my life, anyway.  You really don't know what they will be like two weeks after they enter your household.  And that's okay.  Once you've made the decision to live with them, they're family.  And you work with family.  You work around them, if necessary. (9)

Anyway, tomorrow I am going back to apply for adoption of two black kitties. Hijinks may ensue.  Or pictures. (10)

%Sergio said he'd take care of it.

%%Inasmuch as JD paid for it.

%%%Such as items with a tiny label reading "I Am Loved by Mrs Joy"

%%%%A-PAW

%%%%%Look how medical-sounding I am.

6)  Call it what you want, it's killing.

7) No.

8) No.

9) Unless they are heinous child abusing axe-murderers, but I expect six month old kitties not to have gotten to that stage yet.

10) Though in my experience it is hard to take pictures of black cats.